RICHARDSON, Texas, March 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) has launched "Countdown to Coverage," a community-based effort to enroll Texans in the Health Insurance Marketplace before the enrollment period ends on March 31. BCBSTX is offering health insurance education resources and enrollment opportunities in communities across Texas during the final few weeks of enrollment.

"Through our Countdown to Coverage campaign, we're working to raise awareness about the importance of enrolling in health insurance before the March 31 deadline," said Dan McCoy, chief medical officer for BCBSTX. "Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is committed to assisting the more than 6 million uninsured English and Spanish speaking Texans who now have the ability to purchase health insurance through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace. We are in the last month of the open enrollment period, and consumers have new choices and decisions to make. We want to be there every step of the way, providing bi-lingual information to consumers and assisting their efforts to enroll."

With only weeks left in the current enrollment period, BCBSTX is redoubling outreach to consumers to answer questions about health insurance options and the enrollment process. The company is providing information and assistance in communities across Texas through events, retail stores, traveling mobile assistance centers, online resources and social media outreach.

Enrollment and Wellness FairOn Saturday, March 15, BCBSTX will host a free health insurance enrollment and wellness event at Fair Park's Food & Fiber Pavilion from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free, family-friendly "Countdown to Coverage: Enrollment and Wellness Fair" will offer Dallasites a chance to learn more about their health insurance options, on-site insurance enrollment assistance for those who have chosen to enroll in a BCBSTX plan, free medical screenings, a free bag of fresh produce (while supplies last) and a children's activities area. Parking is free.

Retail Stores in Houston and San AntonioTo meet the needs of the evolving health insurance marketplace, BCBSTX opened a health insurance retail store at the West Oaks Mall in Houston to provide in-person assistance to consumers as they explore their options under the Affordable Care Act. The BCBSTX retail storefront is designed to provide consumers with a personalized experience when shopping for coverage during the current open enrollment period. Services offered include in-store educational events, subsidy application assistance, informational literature, and private consultations with licensed, bilingual agents to help guide consumers through the enrollment process. The store is located at 1000 West Oaks Mall, Houston, Texas 77082.

Additionally, BCBSTX has a San Antonio storefront that directly links customers via telephone to a BCBSTX sales associate to answer questions and assist with the enrollment process. The store is located at Ingram Park Mall, 6301 NW Interstate 410 Loop Frontage Road, San Antonio, Texas 78238.

Community Events and Mobile Assistance CentersBCBSTX Mobile Assistance Centers (MACs) equipped with technology, educational materials and enrollment capabilities will visit neighborhoods and community events throughout Houston and San Antonio. The MACs will visit a new location every Wednesday through Sunday. To find out if a mobile assistance center is in your area, or to find a community event near you, please visit NearYouTX.com for more information.

Online ResourcesIn response to questions about health insurance options and the health care law, consumers can visit ReformandYouTX.com where videos, online seminars and information in both English and Spanish are available. Texans can easily find answers to questions about employer coverage, how to enroll for coverage through the online health insurance marketplace and information about how the law may impact their health insurance options.

Be Covered Texas Education and Outreach CampaignBe Covered Texas is a community-based education and outreach campaign, sponsored by BCBSTX, providing resources and information to Texas' uninsured. Be Covered Texas provides a bilingual website, materials, toll-free hotline to help Texans understand the law and what they need to do to enroll in health insurance plans. Through its statewide network of more than 150 community partners, the Be Covered Texas campaign is currently reaching more than 2.8 million Texans with informational resources about the new health care law.

For More InformationTo learn more about the Affordable Care Act and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas health plans, visit ReformandYouTX.com or call 866-716-5427 (English) or 888-731-0317 (Spanish).

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of TexasBlue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) – the only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas – is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with nearly 80,000 physicians and 500 hospitals to serve 4.9 million members in all 254 counties. BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma and New Mexico), the country's largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall. Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSTX.com | Twitter.com/BCBSTX | Facebook.com/BlueCrossBlueShieldOfTexas | YouTube